I was just accepted there and will 99% be going there. The key reasons for wanting to go there include:
1. Low tuition - this is pretty huge, there are countless threads on here about people wishing they went to a school with a lower tuition.
2. Location - I live in Seattle, lots of friends here/good support network. Plus, Seattle is just a cool place (aside from the genuinely terrible weather - it really is bad, this should be taken into consideration, although it is conducive to studying).
3. Good faculty - I met with several of the faculty members and they all seemed like great people who were experts and genuinely interested in seeing their students learn, talked to some former students who were quite happy with the program also.
4. Cool students - this is a big one, you are going to be spending a HUGE amount of time with your class mates, it's pretty dang important to go to a school where you will enjoy being around your class mates, I can't imagine 3 years of PT school with students I don't like.
5. Major research hospital association - this is the academic piece that I thought set it apart, they are associated with a major regional research hospital which allows for a lot of interdisciplinary cooperation on research and such. I think this is super cool and is something I was very interested in so it was a big selling point for me personally.
6. Sports team - yeah, this one is silly, but part of me is pretty stoked to finally get to go to a university that has a real sports program to root for. Wasn't a determining factor by any means, but it's something I am kind of excited about.
The facilities are a little dark and dingy, but they aren't so bad, and I think some of that feel is just because it's in Seattle, which is dark and wet. The overall campus is beautiful though and although the classrooms aren't so pretty you do get access to top quality equipment.
My stats are as follows:
GPA: 3.65
Pre-Req GPA: 3.91
Undergrad: UC Davis, BA in Communication (went back to CC for science classes)
GRE V:163, Q:166, W:4.5
Ob Hours: About 170 total split evenly between outpatient ortho, inpatient acute, and pediatrics at an elementary school
Excellent reference letters
Lots of experience with sports clubs and as a personal trainer plus worked 6 years in endurance sports industry
My recommendation to getting in is really doing your best to get a good GPA, don't settle for anything less than an A on any science pre-req class. I don't think you need tons of observation hours, what seems important is just making sure you get around to as many different settings as possible and in the process really try to make a good impression and make connections so you can get outstanding letters of recommendation. I don't think you need stellar GRE scores, but they should be solid or it will raise a red flag, especially on the written section. I don't know this for sure but I think the essay is a pretty big deal also, it's your chance to separate yourself from others and sell them on why you deserve to be there, everything else is just numbers.
